Save the date to attend the Vision SMTX Meeting!

The City has been collecting community input on the Vision SMTX Comprehensive Plan Rewrite which will create the vision for the future of San Marcos for the next 20 years! Save the date for a Community Meeting to learn about community, focus group, and Steering Committee input collected thus far and participate in activities to plan for the future of San Marcos. Stay tuned for additional information!

SAVE THE DATE
Vision SMTX: Community Meeting + Virtual Survey
Wednesday, September 15, 2021
San Marcos Public Library, 625 E Hopkins Street

5:30 - 6:00 p.m. | Social Gathering
6:00 - 6:45 p.m. | Presentation
6:45 - 8:00 p.m. | Open House
Can't Attend? A virtual survey option will also be available!

The City will also be presenting information, hosting activities, and gathering public input at a few upcoming events. Stop by and say hello!

August 12: Summer Concert in the Park "Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis" free concert @ Plaza Park, 206 N CM Allen Parkway, 7:30 p.m.
August 18: The 35th Annual San Marcos Chamber Business Expo @ Embassy Suites Hotel, 1001 E McCarty Ln; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
August 19: Kissing Alley Concert Series @ Kissing Alley, Downtown San Marcos, 6 - 9 p.m.
August 20: Sustainable Film Series "Yakona" Film Screening @ Plaza Park, 206 N CM Allen Parkway; 7:30 p.m.
September 18: Public Input Pop-Up Booth @ San Marcos Farmers Market, San Antonio Street in front of the Historic Courthouse; 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Stay tuned for additional events! To learn more about Vision SMTX, visit the project website or email planninginfo@sanmarcostx.gov. Check out a few photos below from our previous events.

Human Services Grant Application - Now Open

Apply for Human Services Agency Grant Funding

The City of San Marcos is seeking applications for human services grants. Human Service Agencies are defined as organizations that seek to improve the quality of their clients’ lives by providing, facilitating, or recommending support for an array of basic social, physical health, housing, and mental health services to needy clients in the community.

This year, the City has allocated $999,120 for human services grants. $150,000 of the funding may be restricted to programs that respond directly to effects of the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.

Application Deadline

A completed application must be submitted with all required supplemental documents to cdbg@sanmarcostx.gov by Friday, September 3, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. CST. The application is available on our website.

Optional Applicant Workshop

An optional applicant virtual workshop will be held Thursday, August 12, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. A link to the virtual meeting will be provided on the City’s webpage the day of the meeting, and will enable all attendees to participate and ask questions. Spanish translation will be available.

For More Information

Please contact Carol Griffith, Housing and Community Development Manager, at cgriffith@sanmarcostx.gov or 512.393.8147.

Development Code Updates - Adopted

The City Council approved amendments to the San Marcos Development Code on August 3, 2021 regarding several topics:

City Engineering Staff Recommendations
Residential Garage / Access Standards
use of Self Storage and Outdoor Storage
Allowable Uses in CD-2.5 and ND-3.2 Zoning Districts
Typographical Errors.

These amendments and any prior of future amendments can be reviewed in detail on the project webpage along with information about the justification for each change.

Department Staff Updates

Irma Duran, Community Initiatives Program Administrator

As Community Initiatives Program Administrator for the City of San Marcos, Irma Iris Duran de Rodriguez coordinates the efforts between agencies and governments to tackle the issues of a rapidly growing city. Her role is to oversee programs funded by Community Development Block Grants and other sources, while supporting the team members in their functions.

Irma has worked for the the City of San Antonio for the past 14 years, managing various grant programs from sources such as the Small Business Administration and Community Development Block Grant. Her expertise ranges from technical assistance through training sessions to procurement for contract bidding in Economic Development, Housing and Planning.

Irma received a BBA in International Marketing with minors in Finance and German from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Project and Construction Management from Texas A&M University - San Antonio.

Irma participates in groups such as State Association of Texas Pioneers, the San Antonio Woman’s Club, the Lutheran Coronation Society, the San Antonio Charro Association, the Star Wars Society and the San Antonio Fiesta Commission. Her dedication to Fiesta started during her tenure as San Antonio Charro Queen in 2008. After serving as Royal Coordinator, and elected Fiesta commissioner, Irma was selected as the Fiesta’s 2022 Presidential Appointee, sitting on the Parade, Finance, Executive and Board Committees providing for administration of this billion-dollar industry.

Irma is a mother to two girls, two pit bulls, two horses, two cockatoos, and foster mom to two rabbits, up for adoption. In her free time, Irma enjoys reading, sewing, the outdoors, and traveling with her children.

Dalton Dueitt, Planner

You may remember learning about Dalton earlier this year when he was promoted to Senior Planning Technician. He is on the move again and has been selected as the newest Planner in the Department! Born and raised in Spring, TX, Dalton moved to San Marcos in 2017. He graduated from Texas State University in the Fall of 2019 earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning. Dalton started his career with the City of San Marcos in 2019 as a Main Street Department intern. He then became the Planning & Development Services Intern and after graduation advanced to Planning Technician, Senior Planning Technician, and now Planner.

Dalton has proven his ability to take on larger projects, more responsibility, and contributes to the department and community with quality and passionate work. As a Planner, Dalton will manage various applications such as conditional use permits, short-term rentals, and zoning. When he is not working, he enjoys spending his time traveling, hiking, and bonding with his friends and family.

Meet the Planning and Development Services Divisions!

Permit Center Staff: Top Row, Kerri Hutson, Elizabeth Ehlers, Rose Mendiola. Bottom Row, Yesenia McNett, Katy Riddle

Community Initiatives: Top Row, Jorge Castillo, Diego Perez, Amanda Hernandez. Bottom Row, Carol Griffith, Irma Duran. Not Pictured, Sylvia Ruiz, Jason Dunn, Lorena Escobar.

Environmental Inspections: Elizabeth Ehlers, Scott Bechtel, Ann Gabriel

Planning Division: Top Row, Will Rugeley, Mathew Nino, Anna Essington, Amanda Mushinski. Bottom Row, Amanda Hernandez, Dalton Dueitt, Andrea Villalobos, Alison Brake, Julia Cleary, Madeline Wilson.

Not pictured, but coming soon, our Building Inspectors!

Paul Hinrichs, Oscar Lopez, Russell Curtis, Michael Gleason, Danny Baker, Marc Flores

Department COVID-19 Update

City Offices are Open with Virtual Meetings

The Planning and Development Services Department is open to the public Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. We encourage customers to continue to use our 24/7 online permitting system at www.mygovernmentonline.org or to call to ask questions at 512.805.2630 (Permits) and 512.393.8230 (Planning) when possible.

All meetings, such as Pre-Developments, will remain virtual. Planning and Zoning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, and Zoning Board of Adjustments meetings are being conducted online. Click here for information on how to view or participate in an upcoming meeting. Additional information and updates on COVID-19 can be found on the City's website.

Inspections

Our inspectors are continuing to keep our single family and commercial construction projects moving while also maintaining their safety by social distancing and hand washing. Our department is still offering video call inspection services as requested, through Skype, for any occupied homes that may prefer that route. Please contact Michael Gleason at mgleason2@sanmarcostx.gov for more information.

Contact the Planning and Development Services Department

The Planning Department's goal is to manage the growth and development of the community by carrying out adopted Council policies, and providing professional expertise. To contact us, visit our webpage or email us at planninginfo@sanmarcostx.gov. The public can sign up for the monthly Planning Newsletter here.